Cramer: Run Away from These 3 Problem Stocks

He who knows to run away, lives to trade another day! We took some artistic liberties with the expression, but it sure works in the case of these 3 stocks!

"I'm always telling you to stay away from battlegrounds, from stocks where there's so much heat that you will end up withering in no man's land. That's no place for an individual investor," reminded Jim Cramer on Friday's broadcast.

According to the Mad Money host, 3 stocks may look cheap, but he says currently they're no bargain. "I'm talking about Mellanox Technologies, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions and Herbalife, three of the most controversial stories in the market right now," said Cramer.

Earlier in the year Cramer identified Mellanoxas a buy – a play on the big data boom. However, Cramer turned negative in September when the company announced that its CFO , Michael Gray was retiring for personal reasons.

Since the announcement shares have tumbled - declining over 50% in only a handful of months.

"I don't like owning stocks where the CFO leaves," Cramer said. "The chief financial officer is the key man or woman, the one who handles the books."

Although the resignation isn't necessarily a sign of trouble, why take chances? If you're putting money to work – put it elsewhere. As a matter of discipline, "I sell a stock when the CFO unexpectedly announces his decision to leave for personal reasons," said Cramer.

"That was enough for me. I have known Herb Greenberg and his work for more than several decades. I know you don't go against him. His work is too high-quality," said Cramer.

Questions asked by top investor David Einhorn during an earnings call in May suggested he too was skeptical of the company's business model,

Then, this week, famed short seller Bill Ackman came on CNBC and called the company a 'pyramid scheme,' an allegation that CEO Michael Johnson strongly denied.

Here's Cramer's takeaway.

"If it's really a Ponzi scheme, why hasn't the government shut it down? If Ackman wants to protect us from it, why doesn't he tell the Justice Department? If Johnson, the CEO, wants to stop Ackman from attacking his company in an unfair and perhaps illegal way, why not sue him?"

More important, though, Cramer doesn't care who is right. What he cares about is price action and shares are down more than 40% in about a month.

"Facts have stopped mattering and emotions have taken over," he said.

Not only does that make the stock a difficult investment – Street savvy pros may try and game the sentiment day to day making the price action that much more unpredictable.

All told, Herbalife is way too volatile for an individual investor.

What's the bottom line?

Pros can make money from the day to day shifts in sentiment but largely "Battleground stocks such as these are no place for individual investors," said Cramer. "Run away, you will be a heck of a lot safer and wealthier if you do."